Marand makes first JSF vertical tail

AN Australian precision engineering company is expected to generate about $1 billion in revenue by making and delivering vertical tails for the world's most advanced war planes.

Melbourne-based Marand and its supply chain are starting production of up to 722 sets of vertical tails for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, which will be fitted to the F-35s of US and F-35 partner nations.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Michael Ronaldson says the manufacture and delivery of these tails is expected to generate about $1 billion in revenue and employ 200 staff at Marand during the life of the program.

Senator Ronaldson said there were several other significant opportunities for Australian industry, including making composite panels for the fuselage of the F-35, weapons carriers, decoy flares and other components.

"Some 30 Australian companies have been directly involved in the F-35 program to date, and more than $355 million in production orders have been won with only 2-3 per cent of aircraft production completed to date," he said in a statement on Monday, after visiting Marand's Moorabbin premises to mark the manufacture of the first vertical tail.

Australia is buying JSF aircraft.

The first are on the production line and are due to be delivered in the second half of 2014.

The federal government says it expects Australia's commitment to buy any more aircraft will be reciprocated by a commitment from lead JSF maker Lockheed Martin to increase these large opportunities for Australian industry.